Do you think deer can sense trail cameras ?

[TonySoprano]

I'm not sure. Typically I only have a couple cameras out at waist height. The others are at least 6 foot , or 8 or 9 foot to be out of sight of trespassers.I bet the deer can smell when you been standing there checking cams. I usually drive to switch out SD cards on my Mule so not leave as much sent. I reach out for the low cameras or stand in the back to get the ones at 8 or 9 foot.

 

[Bill]

I believe they can. I also have pictures over the years of deer smelling me when I’ve been to a camera. For up to 3 days if it hasn’t rained.

 

[Bill]

Post in thread 'Trailcam pics'

Nov 2, 2025

Went to take down a limb that fell in front of a camera on November 30. 3 days later they can still smell me. Every deer since that got close has this reaction. Guess I need a shower this week

• Bill

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[The Fishman]

I have photos of deer all the time staring directly into the camera from 12-24 inches away. I am not sure if they see it or hear it, but they know it is there and like to investigate it.

 

[bigboreblr]

Does do not care. Been numerous bucks I see on cam looking at the camera, then never again.

Weird lights, a little noise like the oldest ones did swapping filters, spooks them.

I'm not a big camera guy, but on time to time I have used a chainsaw to cut a window in a taller stump and sneak it in there. Branch or Infront.

First tree by an open area, not a great idea. Put it back a tree or two.

I used to be fussy about placement when I wanted a buck. These days just enjoy what goes by. Often I like to see less common game. Moose, bobcats, marten, ermines.

 

[Catscratch]

Yes. I've watch buck skirt a camera. Also watched deer almost pose for them. Depends on the individual.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

My experience is the same with most mammals, some don't seem to care at all while others panic. Though most of my cameras are 10+ feet up. It's only in recent years that I got lazy, and care less if the non cell cameras get stolen, that I'm putting them down low.

Honestly, you have no idea if the deer are "avoiding" your cameras, or if there's just no deer going past them, or if they're just not triggering them. This time of year is very telling, I get so many photos where there's tracks in the snow, but I didn't get any pictures of whatever made the tracks.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I personally don't think deer are bothered by cameras. Sure, it depends on the camera, the deer, maybe even the region of the country and the amount of "camera pressure" etc. But I've never had an issue using them and perceive neither camera-shy nor camera-happy behavior.

 

[gjs4]

One of the largest overlooked aspects by the average hunter is not realizing how much deer have different "personalities". To answer your question, of course they can sense cameras as a man made item. I do believe cell cameras have something more to them than SDs. Tying it all together, some deer elect not to be by them, some are too focused to note them, some dont care and some wont be near them because they knew you were with the last option somewhere between curiosity and petrified of them. There is also the generational exposure and acclimation- IE feeder based cams and deer. There another, undisputed fact, just because someone -somewhere had supported outcome doesn't mean it will apply to your situation. My cells are going out for property monitoring- even where the convenience of cell monitoring multiple states away. They ruin properties IMO.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I would say it is an individual deer thing. I routinely have multiple pictures of the same deer throughout the year. I leave my cameras out year round, so maybe that also "desensitizes" them to the cameras. What if a buck fawn was born on your property and routinely visits your property the rest of its life, it should care less about your camera. Why would a camera be more "scary" than a box blind, a cage around a fruit tree, a automatic feeder, etcc... I also have a hard time believing that bucks are more wary of cameras than does, from a biological sense that makes no sense. A doe needs to protect her fawns from danger, maternal instinct. If deer perceive cameras as a threat in general, it logically only makes sense that they would be the ones to avoid the cameras more. You know how easily deer become accustomed to things that are deployed to intentionally scare deer away from an area? Pretty easily

 

[Catscratch]

Honestly, you have no idea if the deer are "avoiding" your cameras, or if there's just no deer going past them, or if they're just not triggering them. T

I have a camera on a yard plot, and I've often hunted where I had a camera. I've watched many deer who were in the plot or area that never got their pics taken. Deer that I can watch from the house and/or a tree. Some of them just avoid the camera, and they do it year round. They don't avoid the area's in general, but they certainly don't get in front of the camera while they are there.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

I leave my cameras out year round, so maybe that also "desensitizes" them to the cameras.

This also plays into location. A deer in the middle of nowhere might easily spook at a strange "thing" on a tree, where a farmland deer that's used to all sorts of man made objects probably wouldn't be concerned.

I still haven't gotten to do my "scarecrow" test because I just don't have a good spot. I want to put out a lifelike scarecrow (with scent), with a camera pretty close to it, and a camera far off to see how close they will get, and how much they will skirt it. But I don't have any open spaces to make it work.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I would have to dig for them, but I have had bucks quarter away from a camera that was up in the tree that whipped their head around and looked right at it. This was a no-glo camera. I'm convinced that with certain video cameras that record in video mode they can hear a high frequency sound when it is recording.

 

[Prairie Acres]

All of my trail cameras are set to take a picture first, followed by a video. However, only the picture is sent to my phone. I typically download the SD cards a couple of times a year and watch the videos at that time. Here are my observations:

When bucks encounter my cameras on the trails at close range, they tend to get skittish. They don’t bolt, but they become nervous and move on quickly. Many of those bucks are never captured on camera at that location again. I’ve noticed the same behavior with coyotes. On the other hand, some mature bucks aren’t bothered by the camera at all. When possible, I prefer to “hide” the cameras along trails, often camouflaged in a clump of small trees or against a large tree trunk.

For food plots, I prefer to mount my camera on a t-post, positioned out in the open. I think deer can spot the t-post from a distance and recognize that it poses no threat. However, some mature bucks are still a bit cautious if they get too close to the t-post. It’s no surprise that food plots are the best locations for taking inventory of the herd.

Strangely, bobcats don’t seem to be bothered by my trail cameras at all.